Mount Rushmore
Grab your cameras and get ready to take some pictures of the 5,725-foot statue of the four presidents in the Black Hills of South Dakota. There are many different things to do at Mount Rushmore and there are many campsites to stay at. Mount Rushmore is a beautiful place to visit. On a typical day you might see several different species of wildflowers, deer, chipmunks and turkey vultures. The three things that make the Black Hills an exciting place to visit, includes the background history, activities, and near by sights.
In 1923, Doane Robinson was the one who suggested carving some giant statues in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The giant statues were made to attract more people to the Black Hills with Colossal carvings of Western heroes. Robinson was not alone in carving the statues into the Black Hills. “Robinson had help from Senator Peter Norbeck and Congressman William Williamson” (nps.gov 2). “Congress passed legislation authorizing the mountain carving in Harney National Forest Preserve (now Black Hills National Forest)” (nps.gov 2). Robinson then contacted Gutzon Borglum, who agreed to come out to the Black Hills in 1924 to look at the area to see if the Carvings were possible. The plan was to carve the Needles area into tall granite figures, but he later found them to be too thin and weathered to support sculpture on a grand scale. Later Borglum was told about Mount Rushmore and immediately searched the area for a perfect area for the statues. “When Borglum saw the mountain he pointed to it and said, “America will march along that skyline” (nps.gov 3). Mount Rushmore faced southeast, which meant it, would receive good light throughout most of the day. Also Mount Rushmore was the highest peak in the vicinity, and the granite was very resistant.
Borglum then created a plaster model from which measurements were taken using the pointing system. On Oct. 4, 1927, the first actual work of carving began (nps.gov 4). Dynamite was used to remove rock from the mountain until a three to six inch layer of granite was left. The surface was then smoothed with a bumper tool, which left the faces smooth. The four faces of the presidents’ chosen were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. “George Washington was chosen because he earned the title “Father of our Country” in recognition of his independence” (nps.gov 1). George Washington also reminds us of our Nation’s birth, but also invokes our commitment to our elective form of democracy” (nps.gov 1). Thomas Jefferson was the second president chosen. He was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France. Also Thomas Jefferson reminds us the reasons our nation was found. Abraham Lincoln was chosen because he not only preserved our Union, but also secured congressional, approval of the thirteenth amendment to the constitution, abolishing slavery (nps.gov 2). “Theodore Roosevelt was a Conservationist, setting aside five National Parks, eighteen National Monuments and millions of acres of National Forest for America” (nps.gov 2). George Washington was the first to be worked on. His head was first carved in an egg shape, and his features were then added later (State Legislatures 3). Washington’s face was dedicated on July 4th, 1934. Thomas Jefferson was started on Washington’s right side. After about two years of working on Jefferson, the granite was found to be badly cracked and Jefferson had to be blasted off the mountain (State Legislatures 3). He was then started again on the left side of Washington. Local women from Rapid City made a thirty nine to seventy foot flag to cover the face before it was revealed to the public. Thomas Jefferson was dedicated in 1936. “Abraham Lincoln was dedicated on September 17th, 1937, the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the constitution” (nps.gov 2). In 1939 modern plumbing and night lighting was installed at the memorial. “Theodore Roosevelt’s figure was dedicated July 2nd, 1939” (nps.gov 2). The flag was removed and the newly installed lights slowly illuminated it followed by fireworks and rockets that lit up the sky. Work continued on the mountain for two more years. Details and finishing touches were also made. The background history is not the only exciting thing about Mount Rushmore, but the activities you can get involved with. The Black Hills is ideal for camping, with enough campsites to hold 25,000 overnight guests. The Black Hills area offers cool nights, few mosquitoes, unlike mountain ranges farther west there are no bears. The area also offers evening entertainment, horseback rides, convenience stores, and recreational lodges. All the campgrounds in the Black Hills are no more than 90 minutes from Mount Rushmore. The Wind Cave campground offers 75 sites for tents. They also provide restrooms, firewood, fire grills and picnic tables (americanparknetwork.com 2). The Keystone and Hill City are the nearest communities with guest rooms and campgrounds. Rapid City is the areas largest community, which is just 20 minutes from the memorial. Custer is another popular stopping place especially for those exploring the southern Black Hills. There are series of trails that lead off the main walkway to the Amphitheater, the Borglum Viewing Terrace, and the sculptor’s studio. The half-mile Presidential Trail leads to the base of the mountain. “The area provides a wealth of nonmotorized recreational opportunities, including wildlife viewing and mountaintop panoramic views of pine forests, and cool canyons” (americanparknetwork.com 2). Horseback riders and hikers are the primary users of the trail system. Mountain biking has become increasingly popular in recent years. There are also many exciting places to visit that are near Mount Rushmore. Here is a small sample of some of the region's special offerings near Mount Rushmore. There are only a few wild places left in this country and Custer State Park is one of them. Nearly 1,500 bison wander the parks with 71,000 acres, which they share with pronghorns, elk, mountain goats and burros. Travelers are free to explore the trail rides, scenic drives, mountain bikes, paddleboats, hayrides and safari tours. Each September, cowboys, cowgirls and park staff round up the park’s herd of bison. Where they are then moved to buffalo corrals along Wildlife Loop Road. Once they are in the corrals, the animals are sorted and some are ready for auction. Wind Cave National Park is south of Custer State Park and north of Hot Springs. Elk, pronghorn, deer and bison roam the 28,000 acres of natural sanctuary that make up the park. There are more than 84 miles of known passageways. Park rangers provide regular guided tours of the cave year- round. Wind Cave is one of the longest caves in the world (National Parks 3). “Located west of the town of Custer, Jewel Cave National Monument is part of the same massive Black Hills hydrologic system that spawned Wind Cave” (travel weekly 2). Boasting more than 120 miles of explored passageways, Jewel Cave ranks as the third longest in the world. The cave takes its name from the glittering calcite crystals that adorn its walls in the form of nail head or dogtooth spar. Rangers at the Visitor Center will provide details about guided tours and other interpretive offerings. Twenty-six thousand years ago, Columbian and woolly mammoths, looking to escape the bitter cold of the Ice Age, were attracted to a warm pond located on the western edge of present-day Hot Springs (National Parks 4). Every now and then, over a period of thousands of years, mammoths slid into the natural, steep-sided sinkhole and became trapped. After dying of starvation or exhaustion while trying to climb the slippery sides of the hole, their bodies settled to the pool's murky bottom and eventually became entombed in silt (travelsd.com 3). Many centuries later, in 1974, a bulldozer operator was preparing the site for a new housing project when he noticed a white tusk in the dirt beneath his blade. “Now the spot is called the Mammoth Site and is enclosed in a modern interpretive facility which is located just west of Hot Springs” (travelsd.com 3). In 1948, seven years after work stopped on nearby Mount Rushmore, grand-scale carving began on the Crazy Horse Memorial (The New Republic 2). Sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski had worked as an assistant to Borglum at Mount Rushmore in 1939. “Ziolkowski, a burly, determined artist, loved the challenge and was inspired to dedicate the rest of his life to the largest sculptural undertaking in the world” (travel weekly 3). With Chief Henry Standing Bear, Ziolkowski chose the legendary Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, for his subject. Crazy Horse was born in the Black Hills and is partially credited with Custer's sensational defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn. “The Boston-born artist spent several decades alone on the mountain, drilling and blasting the likeness of the great Sioux leader from the granite of Thunderhead Mountain. Depicting Crazy Horse atop his steed, the 563-foot-tall memorial is being carved in the round and will dwarf even the four presidents on Mount Rushmore when completed” (travel weekly 3). The Crazy Horse Memorial is located five miles north of Custer. Those are some of the regions exciting offerings near Mount Rushmore. In conclusion, the background history, activities, and near by sights are the three things that make the Black Hills an exciting place to visit. The next time you want to take your family on vacation, try visiting Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore provides many activities and campsites for you and your family. Also there are exciting places near Mount Rushmore including Hot Springs, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, and many more. These are the many reasons why Mount Rushmore is a good place to visit.